“Above the Fold”
(An introduction to each week’s newsletter from the editor of WMNN)
Hi, Neighbors! In this week’s Western Maine Neighborhood News, the Bethel, Newry, and Woodstock columns are free to all subscribers. I’m sorry to say that our Gilead correspondent, Lin Chapman, is hospitalized and will be unable to write the Gilead column. Please join me in sending your best healing wishes, thoughts, and prayers to Lin, Hugh, and their family. If you have Gilead news and events, please email them to me at amy.w.chapman@gmail.com and I will be happy to share them.
As always, you can upgrade to a paid subscription ($5/month or $50/year) to read this week’s Andover, East Bethel, Locke’s Mills, and West Paris columns (and all the town columns every week).
Our communities have lost two of our oldest and most vibrant seniors in the past couple of weeks, and condolences are extended to their families and friends.
Arlene Harrington, age 103 and one of the feistiest, most delightful people I’ve ever met, passed away on October 29. She had been the holder of Bethel’s Boston Post Cane (awarded to a town’s oldest citizen) since receiving it at the tender age of 97.
And Bellmont “Bunker” House of Bryant Pond passed away yesterday, November 11, a few days after suffering a fall at home. I was heartbroken to hear the news, because somehow I thought Bunk would live forever, and, at 95, he seemed to be on his way to doing just that. Bunk was a justice of the peace, and he performed the ceremony when Tony and I got married here in our backyard in Locke’s Mills in 1989; we had to schedule it so he’d have time to go home and clean up after selling seafood out of his truck in the mill parking lot all morning. I’m so glad for the times I got to spend with him over the past few years...he was one in a million, and I sure did love him.
Andover News
Diana Nadeau
Hello my faithful readers.
Let me start off by wishing Barbara Simmons a speedy recovery from her recent knee surgery. I hear Liz Ladd is doing well after her hip replacement surgery. A bit of good news to share: it is believed that Mark Farrington will be returning home soon after his lengthy stay in the hospital caused by a terrible automobile accident back in October.
Bethel News
Linda Howe
The Bethel Senior Citizen Club, founded in 1962, held their monthly meeting on November 11th. Club members brought food to share and a delicious turkey dinner was enjoyed by all. This Senior group meets the second Wednesday of every month.
The agenda for this month was a full one. A trip is planned for December 11th to see The Magic of Christmas at Merrill Auditorium. Club members are also putting together Christmas packages for the residents of the Sober House located in Greenwood as a Community Service Project.
Below is the agenda from the November meeting. There are many activities being planned to keep our oldest Citizens up and moving.
The Rumford Point UCC Church is holding their monthly community potluck lunch on Saturday, November 14th, starting at 11:30 a.m. The church welcomes all to bring a dish to share with others. Good food and pleasant conversation can be enjoyed by all.
Another community event is the November Soup’s On! on Wednesday, November 18th, starting at 11 a.m. at the Methodist Church on Main Street in Bethel. This free event brings folks to share soup with other community members. Food connects people and helps build community.
There will be a celebration of life for Wally Ritz on Saturday, November 21st, at the Methodist Church located on Main Street starting at 1 p.m. Wally was the columnist for the East Bethel news for many years. She was also a steady helper in the kitchen for Soup’s On! Folks are invited to come and remember Wally and celebrate her life.
This digital column welcomes news and events which can be sent to lhowe7273@gmail.com
East Bethel News
Hayli Tuttle
Hello neighbors! I hope you had a lovely week.
I was truly saddened to hear of Arlene Harrington’s passing on October 29th. 103
Gilead News
In Lin’s absence, here’s yesterday’s update on the Wild River fire:
Wild River Fire
White Mountain National Forest
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Total Acres: 817 | 59% contained | Total Personnel: 87
Resources: 2 Helicopters, 2 Suppression Modules, and 1 Unmanned Aerial System
Current Situation:
Firefighters continue to strengthen containment lines around the fire, increasing containment to 59%. Crews successfully tied together previously established containment lines and confirmed additional sections of perimeter remain secure. Ongoing infrared flights conducted by unmanned aircraft systems continue to identify and assess potential hot spots within the fire area, supporting suppression and monitoring efforts. Continued map refinement has resulted in a reduction of the total fire acreage.
Fire behavior is minimal and smoldering in the hardwood leaf litter. Crews remain focused on monitoring, patrol, and mop-up operations. Safety remains the top priority as forecasted high winds could increase the potential for tree blowdown and other hazards. Assigned resources will continue to be adjusted to align with operational needs and current fire conditions.
Weather:
Partly sunny today with an expected high temperature around 43 degrees. Minimum humidity is expected to be around 67%. Northwest winds are forecasted at 6 to 9 miles per hour in the morning, becoming light later in the day.
Smoke:
Smoke dispersal is expected to be poor early in the morning, increasing to good in the afternoon. Find up-to-date, local air quality information at
https://fire.airnow.gov
Closures:
A forest closure is in effect on the White Mountain National Forest. The closure order and map can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/whitemountain/alerts/wild-river-fire-androscoggin-ranger-district.
Use of drones in a fire area endangers the lives of pilots and firefighters. Never fly drones over or near a fire.
Locke’s Mills News
Amy Wight Chapman
When I read this line in Linda Stowell’s Woodstock column: “With a third of November already gone, Thanksgiving will be upon us very soon!” I thought, that can’t be right! But of course it is—and the holiday season really is right around the corner.
My daughter Annie, who owns a bookstore in Nederland, Colorado, looks forward to the holidays as much as just about anyone I know (unless it’s her sister Cait, who was also switched at birth with an elf baby). She already has her shop
Newry News
Amy Henley
Can you believe Thanksgiving is only two weeks away? I really better begin planning. When I host, we always have the same menu with the exception of dessert. Sometimes I make pumpkin and apple pies but have been known to make pumpkin whoopie pies instead. It truly is my favorite holiday of the year. No presents to buy, just food and enjoying each other’s company. It is a lot of work and plenty of dishes but so worth it. I do get a little stressed out with the timing of everything and keeping food hot but it all comes together. And the great thing about hosting is all the leftovers.
Beef stew and corn chowder have been on the menu lately along with some biscuits as cooler fall weather has arrived. We even had a mix of rain and snow on Sunday morning. Eliot decided he wanted to help bake a couple things, so we made a banana bread and some apple brownies. While he was out and I was making supper, I also made some apple dumplings. It had been a long time since I had made any and the boys both agreed they were delicious.
I finally had time to unpack the dehydrator and made some jerky. It came out really good and I can’t wait to dehydrate some fruit and see what else I can come up with. Eliot wants some venison jerky so I’ll add that to the list.
I did process a couple of squash and still have more to go but am making progress. It just takes time and lots of clean up. In the middle of winter it sure is nice to have a freezer full of food you’ve put up and still tastes as fresh as coming out of the garden.
The Comprehensive Plan Committee met on Monday and with the help of Erica Bufkins from AVCOG are making great progress. They went over the Water Resources and Transportation chapters and only have four more chapters to complete. Great job everyone who has put in the time to be on this committee.
The Select Board meets next on Tuesday, November 17th at 4:30 pm. The Planning Board’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18th at 6pm with a public hearing first and the meeting to follow. Agendas can be found on the town’s website newrymaine.org.
I managed to get one last picture of some beautiful color on the leaves in my grandmother’s flower garden and of course couldn’t resist the picture.
Please send me your news to newrynews24@gmail.com and I’ll gladly add it to next week’s column.
West Paris News
Stephanie Emery
Greetings from West Paris!
Gardens behind the Agnes Gray building are being prepped to once again come alive in the spring. Barbara Murphy is kindly heading up this garden project. Volunteers have already cleaned out 10 raised beds of weeds and debris and
Woodstock News
Linda Stowell
November greetings! This week the temperatures have been a bit more “normal.” Last week was very nice and warm! It was nice to not have to think about heating the house for a few days. Now the fire is going again, and it feels very warm and toasty inside. I have always thought of November as a gray month. The sky is often gray, the leaves of color are gone, leaving all the rusty colored ones. The birds are happily coming to the feeder now.
Here are some upcoming events:
The church gladly welcomes any donations of food for the dinner. The meal is free; donations are graciously accepted. This time around, I’m making a crockpot full of stuffing.
This will be the last meal of the year at the Locke Mills Union Church.
Upcoming services at the First Universalist Church of West Paris:
November 15, we will be closed to join with the So. Paris UU church at 9:30 a.m. for their worship service.
November 22, “The Power of One - Who believed in you?” led by Ed and Leslie Rosenberg. In these unsettled times with all the chaos and negativity in the world you can mentally change the channel and tune into a positive memory of someone who believed in you, who cared about you, encouraged you, made you feel you matter and could make a difference. Using that touch stone experience, we will explore how we can use the Power of One to “pay it forward” and empower the next generation to seek a life well lived for a world as it was meant to be.
November 25, Thanksgiving Pie Sale at the church from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Place your order for an apple, pumpkin or blueberry pie ($18 per pie) by November 19th by contacting Marta Clements at 207-674-2143, or email mclements96894@roadrunner.com. Pie pickup will be on Wednesday, November 25th from 9:00-11:00 AM at The First Universalist Church of West Paris.
November 29, “Loneliness,” led by The Rev. Scott Campbell. Here is an excerpt: “Dear friends, I invite us this morning to ponder anew what it means to be a blessing to those who are alone, to minister to those who are cut off from the fold, to care for those who long for community. May it be the longing of our hearts that they should not languish in loneliness or despair but might be invited into the presence of love. May what we do and what we say surround them with the presence of the divine.”
For more information about the church and services, please contact Marta Clements, 674-2143, mclements96894@roadrunner.com, or Suzanne Dunham, 665-2967, dunhamfarm@msn.com. The First Universalist Church of West Paris is located at 208 Main St., W. Paris 04289
Christmas is Coming! The Christmas Fair and Tea is Saturday, December 5, from 11 AM to 2PM at the West Parish Congregational church in Bethel. Please note it will start at 11 AM this year not 12, as in previous years. The tea is a wonderful time to begin the Christmas season with a cup of tea, coffee, or cocoa and a visit with friends. After a cup of tea and conversation, go downstairs and check out the cookie walk, baked goods, and tiny treasures. Items for tiny treasures can be dropped off at the church, 32 Church Street, anytime between November 20 and December 2.
The Whitman Memorial Library board of trustees and the Town of Woodstock welcome our new librarian, Mike Dignan. Mike will be starting this week! Stay tuned for possible time changes in library hours. We look forward to working with him.
The Kenneth Hathaway art exhibit is going on at the library and will be up until the end of November.
The annual holiday concert and raffle at the Whitman Memorial Library is set for Thursday, December 10, at 2:00 pm. We are hoping to have this event happen next door at the Grange Hall, which has more room.
If anyone has any item (new, gently used, hand made...) they would like to donate to our raffle, it would be greatly appreciated. This is one of our fundraisers, and is a popular event. The concert will be Low Commotion, a low brass group, and is free.
With a third of November already gone, Thanksgiving will be upon us very soon!
Thank you to all the veterans out there, and we honor you this Veteran’s Day.
Please send your news/events to: lalalindastowell@gmail.com
AFCI News
Melinda Remington
Dear Friends of AFCI,
I am sorry to report the recent enjoyable time of watching the leaves turn color is now behind us. There is not much more time to finish raking and cleaning up the gardens and yard. It is time to look forward to both the festivities and the quiet times of winter.
No matter the season of the year (or our lives) there is much to look forward to and enjoy. The following photos of local events and people capture some of the many activities that are available to us as we age.
Attend a Bethel Senior Citizens lunch to learn about charitable endeavors such as Christmas for Families. Nina Wheeler has enthusiastically led this effort for decades. Nancy Staudinger spoke about the members’ plans for attending “The Joy of Christmas” performance in Portland.
Spread good cheer. Prepare for the holidays by decorating your house. Rick and Ellen Whitney decorate their windows early so they can avoid the chill and winds that are sure to come.
“Measure twice, cut once” is sound advice when hurrying to finish up those fall carpentry chores. Tom Remington is in his mid-70s and works on home projects every day.
Completing craft or sewing projects brings great satisfaction and relief! I finished putting side panels on this quilt…after putting it off for at least 6 months!
Volunteer to help with youth or the older folks in your community.
